IN BRIEF - Public Voting Opens for the MSC UK Product of the Year Award
UNITED KINGDOM
Monday, July 22, 2024
The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), the world’s most recognised ecolabel for sustainable seafood which can be seen on everything from tinned fish to tuna steaks, is excited to announce that, for the first time ever, the MSC UK Product of the Year Award at this year’s MSC and ASC UK Awards will be judged exclusively by a public vote.
All voters will be in with the chance of winning a paddleboard from B-Corp certified Red as a first prize, as well as either a £200 or £100 voucher for Cornish-based clothing company Finisterre, as second and third prizes.
The MSC is an international non-profit organisation which sets globally recognised, science-based standards for sustainable fishing and assurance in the seafood supply chain. The annual MSC UK Awards are held to celebrate excellence in sustainable fishing and seafood across the United Kingdom. Up until 2024, the MSC UK Product of the Year category has been judged by an expert panel of representatives from across the seafood sector. The new public vote will directly engage consumers, highlighting the wealth and diversity of sust
Atlantic Canada is set to strengthen its position as a global leader in marine technology and aquaculture with the launch of a new programme designed to commercialise regional innovation.
The Atlantic Canada Aquaculture Studio, delivered by Hatch Blue in partnership with Oceans Advance, will launch this July in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. Funded by the Government of Canada, through the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Canada’s Ocean Supercluster and the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador, the program will support high-potential aquaculture, aquatech, and marine biotechnology companies that are ready to move beyond early validation and into growth.
Source: The Fish Site | Read the full article here
Commissioner Costas Kadis promises to review the methodology used to translate scientific data into restrictions and present a proposal before the end of the year. Catalan fishing guilds applaud the shift, but demand specifics and consensus with the sector.
The European Commission is beginning to admit that the system used to determine fishing opportunities—quotas, catch limits, and, above all, days of activity has reached a point of friction that is difficult to sustain. This week, in an interview published by ACN, the European Commissioner for Fisheries, Costas Kadis, announced that Brussels will "change the way it interprets" scientific data when imposing restrictions
As announced at the end of last year, the General Secretariat for Fisheries is entering into negotiations with the Portuguese Secretariat for Fisheries and the Sea to renew the Iberian sardine management agreement for next year and subsequent years. At a meeting held on March 4th in Madrid, Spain's Isabel Artime and her Portuguese counterpart, Salvador Malheiro, formalized the creation of a working group in which Spain will "promote a review of the current allocation key, the percentage of quota allocated to each country, to align it with the actual catch by each country's fleet."
Source: La Voz de Galicia | Read the full article here
Norwegian Maritime Partner is building seven new search and rescue (SAR) vessels for the Danish Armed Forces. Together with researchers and technicians from SINTEF Ocean, they are conducting research in which they have designed specially built small-scale models to test maneuverability, dynamic stability at high speeds and in rough waters, and hull strength.
The vessels must meet stringent performance and safety requirements, with a top speed of over 35 knots and a range of over 350 nautical miles. They are equipped with advanced safety features and meet strict emissions requirements.
Source: Industrias Pesqueras | Read the full article here
Mexico has introduced legislation to ban all cephalopod farming nationwide. The proposed bill makes Mexico the second country in Latin America to propose legislation to ban octopus farming, following a similar federal bill introduced in Chile in 2025. Senator Maki Esther Ortiz Domínguez, of the Partido Verde Ecologista de México (PVEM), presented the bill last week in the Mexican Senate. It proposes reforms to the General Law of Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture that would prohibit the breeding or growth stages of any cephalopod species in Mexican territory. No concessions or permits would be granted for such activities. The bill now moves to the relevant Senate commissions for discussion.
The ASC certification covers seven species: Olympia oyster, Kumamoto oyster, Eastern oyster, Pacific oyster, Mediterranean mussel, Manila clam and geoduck. Its geoduck – the world’s largest burrowing clam species – is currently the only ASC-certified geoduck in the world.
Taylor Shellfish Farms is North America’s largest oyster producer, and ASC said the accreditation significantly increases US availability of ASC-labelled shellfish at a time when retailers and foodservice operators are under pressure to substantiate sustainability claims.
Source: fishfarmingexpert | Read the full article here
Companies from around the world, expert voices in panels and seminars, and recognition of local innovation will be part of the thirteenth edition of the fair.
More than 20,000 square meters of exhibition space, the participation of more than 550 exhibiting companies, and an International Congress that will bring together more than 40 speakers to address the main challenges of the aquaculture industry in Chile and the world will shape Aquasur 2026, which will be held in the Los Lagos Region between March 24 and 26.
The goal that FISA events set for this edition was to consolidate the fair as "the largest aquaculture industry event in the Southern Hemisphere," while also positioning the Los Lagos Region as a national development hub.
Source: iPac.acuicultura | Read the full article here
IceFish exhibitor and packaging giant Samhentir Kassagerð ehf has announced that its operations have been certified under the international BRCGS standard for import and wholesale companies for packaging, including food packaging.
The company received an A rating, the highest possible result for the BRCGS Storage and Distribution standard.
The certification confirms that Samhentir's processes meet strict requirements for quality, safety and traceability. Customers can therefore be confident that they will always receive consistent and safe quality from certified, world-class suppliers.
Pollock nuggets, raw octopus and a range of salmon-based products are among the shortlisted finalists for the Seafood Excellence Awards. The list includes the US arm of smoked salmon specialist St. James Smokehouse.
The winners will be announced on Sunday 15 March at Seafood Expo North America/Seafood Processing North America, the largest seafood trade event in North America.The 12 finalists in the Excellence Awards were selected out of a list of market-ready products that are launching or have been introduced in the past 18 months to the North American market.
Author: Robert Outram / Fish Farmer | Read the full article here
Growth in volume and value for Norwegian salmon exports.
Norway exported 97,463 tonnes of salmon worth NOK 9.4 billion ($940 million) in February, marking growth in both value and volume compared with the same month last year.
Poland, China and France were the largest markets for Norwegian salmon during the month.
China recorded the strongest growth in value. Exports to the country increased by NOK 570 million, or 107 percent, compared with February last year.
Source: SalmonBusiness | Read the full article here
China’s Squid Price Index Plunge by Up to 36% China
Zhoushan Squid Price Index confirms generalized declines across the four main distant-water fishing zones as of February 13, 2026, amid increased supply and international demand adjustments
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CANADA
Atlantic Canada is set to strengthen its position as a global leader in marine technology and aquaculture with the launch of a new programme designed to commercialise regional innovation.
BELGIUM
Commissioner Costas Kadis promises to review the methodology used to translate scientific data into restrictions and present a proposal before the end of the year. Catalan fishing guilds applaud the shift, but demand specifics and consensus with the sector.
SPAIN
As announced at the end of last year, the General Secretariat for Fisheries is entering into negotiations with the Portuguese Secretariat for Fisheries and the Sea to renew the Iberian sardine management agreement for next year and subsequent years. At a meeting held on March 4th in Madrid, Spain's Isabel Artime and her Portuguese counterpart, Salvador Malheiro, formalized the creation of a working group in which Spain will "promote a review of the current allocation key, the percentage of quota allocated to each country, to align it with the actual catch by each country's fleet." 
DENMARK
Norwegian Maritime Partner is building seven new search and rescue (SAR) vessels for the Danish Armed Forces. Together with researchers and technicians from 
MEXICO
Mexico has introduced legislation to ban all cephalopod farming nationwide. The proposed bill makes Mexico the second country in Latin America to propose legislation to ban octopus farming, following a similar federal bill introduced in Chile in 2025. Senator Maki Esther Ortiz Domínguez, of the Partido Verde Ecologista de México (PVEM), presented the bill last week in the Mexican Senate. It proposes reforms to the General Law of Sustainable Fisheries and Aquaculture that would prohibit the breeding or growth stages of any cephalopod species in Mexican territory. No concessions or permits would be granted for such activities. The bill now moves to the relevant Senate commissions for discussion.
UNITED STATES
Taylor Shellfish Farms
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More than 20,000 square meters of exhibition space, the participation of more than 550 exhibiting companies, and an International Congress that will bring together more than 40 speakers to address the main challenges of the aquaculture industry in Chile and the world will shape 
ICELAND
IceFish exhibitor and packaging giant 
Pollock nuggets, raw octopus and a range of salmon-based products are among the shortlisted finalists for the Seafood Excellence Awards. The list includes the US arm of smoked salmon specialist St. James Smokehouse.
CHINA.png)
Growth in volume and value for Norwegian salmon exports.
